Chicago - July 2006

Okay,

The picture is actually a couple of years old, from the very first visit to Wrigley Field. At my left is Derek, a sports freak with impending nuptials, who has suffered some kind of raving mind disease of late, and actually offered me Hank Blaylock for Manny Ramirez. But I digress.

This time around, I hit Chicago to participate in a work related series of seminars involving a technology that we are exploring for commercial opportunity. I won't bore you with the details, nore expose my employer's plans to the millions...............and millions of you reading this report. What I will tell you is that the event ended with a rooftop party at Wrigley Field, which came precariously close to being rained out. Instead the Cubs went on to win, and the day ended up being fairly fantastic out! The usual revelry followed in Wrigleyville, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you've never been there. Second-hand stories always lack the wonder of the first-hand experience, so don't even try and snow me on this one!

Dinner at a wonderful Brazilian restaurant in the heart of the city, only a few blocks removed from the Magnificent Mile (which really isn't that magnificent Chicago!) called Fogo de Chau's is an absolute must while you're in town. Ignore the salad bar, and prepare for a culinary wonder the likes of which your carnivore ancestors could only imagine! I remain in awe of the fact that chicken can actually taste MORE like chicken that I had previously thought possible!

All other events aside though, I love Chicago for one reason and one reason only; I love the Bagel Guy! Gary to the common folk, Bagel Guy is one of the old school of online gamers that I always knew casually, but whom I have come to know very well in my travels to Chicago. He is always the most incredible host, and the man simply knows how to entertain. This weekend we spent time at his bar, where a live band, a bottle of Crown Royal with my name on it, and a packed house made for a truly sensational evening. Its also really cool that the bar is located in Woodstock (of Groundhog Day fame.) I'm sure its already grown old for Gary, but I never tire of wandering the town square in a drunken stupor and posing in all the famous Bill Murray scenes!

I'm going to embelish some terrific stories from my various Chicago trips, but not until I catch you up on my travels. After all, I followed the trip to Chicago by visiting Diggzy Brown in Boston. The Killer Bee showed up, and the greatest seats in the history of Fenway were had for all.

Next up.......Fenway!